Screed upon screed has been written of her heart-breaking love-affair.

Artists have thrilled to the vision of her flowing still-lovely hair

Floating along in the river, framing her still-calm face,

But Katherine preceded Ophelia, and, of her, there isn't a trace!

*

Shakespeare was just a young fellow of sixteen or so it is said,

When a girl from a nearby village was found in the river, dead.

The drowning was seen as a mystery; the girl had a lover, it's true,

And the gossips spoke of a broken heart, as gossips often do.

She was only a humble creature, maybe a lowly maid,

And she was carrying buckets, part of her stock-in-trade.

Finally, it was decided that accidental death

Had caused her to fall in the river, and take her final breath.

Maybe she overbalanced, or tripped on a rock by chance,

But the rumours always persisted as a story of romance.

*

Shakespeare was young and dreamy; he thought of the girl, no doubt,

And, as a man, it's rumoured, he let the story out.

'Katherine' became a lady of noble and royal birth,

Far removed from peasantry and the toil of the common earth.

Shakespeare 'created' Ophelia, immortalised her history;

Imbued her with grand yearnings and an air of eternal mystery.

*

No-one knows, for certain, that this was Shakespeare's source,

And no-one ever will know at this late stage, of course.

The uncertainty about it must be underlined.

But the girl's name was

KATHERINE HAMLET!

*

So make up your own mind!

*
--------------------------------------------------------PS

Having never been to a Launch before, I've now been to two in quick succession! My friend, Peter, who is the cartoonist on the local paper, has celebrated his 25th anniversary with an exhibition and a book. The launch took place at a newly-built venue in the area and it was a great success.

Here is an early arrival taking a look at the cartoons.

Here we see just a few examples of his celebrity 'portraits'.

Here is Peter himself with his partner, Julie. It's dreadful of them but good of Peter's 'stained-glass' window.

Great perspective. The shot taken from above is lovely and the black and white only enhances it. Your poem about the wheel is wonderful. It adds so much. I would love sitting on Caroline’s porch and sipping a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

It is so strange to hear a solo exhibition called a Launch! Wandering Wheel: while reading your verse, the rhythm of a familiar modern folk song enteredmy consciousness, but I cannot remember the title - something that Peter, Paul and Mary used to sing. An interesting notion!

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About Me

Born in England in 1931. Evacuated in World War 2. Trained as a teacher at Brighton Training College, Sussex. Taught in London. Moved to Zimbabwe. Seven years later worked on a mail ship. Married Malcolm in Capetown. Two children, Rebecca and Greg. Moved to Australia in 1974. After retirement worked for a publisher. Three grandsons, Blake, Harry and Max. Disabled by stroke in 2013. Now in wheelchair with husband as carer..